Level 1

11 points

What is causing the packet loss?

Hi macers.

I have a problem with my wifi. I noticed that my browser gets "stuck" by not loading pages, or taking too long doing that (any browser).

I tested this using the command in the terminal: `ping 8.8.8.8` and noticed that it misses packets every one in a while and then gets back to normal. sometimes this happens with big chunks of packets, and sometimes with 1-4

I tested this on my android phone which is located right next to my macbook and connected to the same wifi network with a 100% success.

Can you please help me resolve the problem?

Posted on Sep 13, 2021 3:03 PM

Top-ranking reply

woodmeister50

Level 7

21,063 points

Posted on Sep 16, 2021 1:36 PM

A couple things to try with regards to WiFi. These are all separate actions.

-Disconnect from your current WiFi connection, turn WiFi off, power down and then start back up and then enable WiFi and then reconnect.

-Boot into Safe Mode, this will take a bit longer than a normal boot since macOS will do some major "housecleaning". Once you log in, see if the WiFi issue still exists. If it doesn't, shutdown and restart into your normal login.

-In System Preferences->Network, delete the WiFi, reboot and then add WiFi back.

-In System Preferences->Network, if location is set to Automatic, select edit locations and ad a new one and make the WiFi connection again (this will see if you simply have a corrupt network preference file which can sometimes happen).

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24 replies

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 17, 2021 7:47 AM in response to Old Toad

@Old Toad - I uninstalled it and deleted all remaining files, nothing seems to change.

@jeffreythefrog - I ping without a VPN. and there is nothing disrespectful with helping, I actually very much appreciate it.

@woodmeister50 - I tried the 4 points you recommended doing, non of them seem to solve the problem. I might actually really consider to format and reinstall everything. I ordered a box for my external SSD nvme so i can feel more comfortable formating my mac while keeping files secured. but for now, any of these doesn't seem to work.

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 17, 2021 7:59 AM in response to woodmeister50

I started to feel that maybe it's not the mac at all (although i tested it with my mobile phone, but mobiles do not tend to load too much packets so maybe this is why it works well with my mobile?)

anyway, I found a tool called PingPlotter which helps to determine if its an isp issue or a local issue.

(right click + "open in new tab" - to display the whole image)

the PL starts somewhere in the middle and then expands to others under/above it, and then spreads to all (as in the image) which includes the isp modem (192.168.14.1) and the TP-Link router (192.168.0.1).

The thing is when I sit right next to the router it takes it a lot more time to to give a result as in the image.

I am wondering if its maybe an isp problem, or maybe my routers wifi doesn't do well? any other ideas how to debug this?

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 14, 2021 10:20 AM in response to alma1090

Hi @alma1090, I have already been through this, just not sure where to submit my result for them to be reviewed.

Maybe you can help ?

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 14, 2021 10:36 AM in response to splashcrum

Oh and I tried looking at my network channels, I'm on the best there is in my physical area.

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 16, 2021 1:56 AM in response to Old Toad

Thank you @Old-Toad and @P.Phillips.

I removed Avast as suggested but the mini-disconnections / packet loss still occure.

How do I debug this?

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 16, 2021 2:40 AM in response to Old Toad

FAF is amazing!

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 16, 2021 8:48 AM in response to Old Toad

EtreCheck Report

Thanks! Here it is!

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 16, 2021 9:39 AM in response to Old Toad

I'm having trouble removing some files from /Library/SystemExtensions which include symantec and avira.

Any idea how to do this?

rm -rf output

devwal Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 16, 2021 12:23 PM in response to Old Toad

I was able to delete the files after applying `csrutil enable/disable` in recovery mode :)

This is my current result, and the wifi 5g problem still occurs:

EtreCheck

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What is causing the packet loss?